Police Probe Bullying In Deadly Kensington Shooting
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A home in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood remains riddled with bullet holes and police sources told Eyewitness News, a mentally slow man who lived there may have been shot to death after standing up to bullying.
Family and friends identified the victim as 36-year-old Julio Ortega.
Ortega's former brother-in-law, Ricardo Ruiz said, "I heard at the hospital, they said he got shot 10 times."
The shooting occurred Saturday night on the 1300 block of East Sedgley Avenue. Ruiz said even though Ortega's relationship with his sister didn't work out, Ortega was living with him.
"He's going be family forever. He's a good guy. He didn't have a problem with nobody. He tried to be the nicest he can," Ruiz said.
"I mean he didn't deserve this. Really he didn't. I mean he was slow, but that doesn't mean they had to take his life the way they did," Gloria Garcia, a neighbor, said.
According to those who knew Ortega well, the 36-year-old was mentally slow, had been suffering from epileptic seizures and also had a speech impediment. Police said their investigation into the motive is continuing and they are not ruling anything out. But Eyewitness News learned from sources, investigators are looking into the possibility that Ortega fell victim after standing up to taunting and harassment based on his maladies.
Garcia said, "Probably he did. Probably he was tired of people messing with him."
Ruiz added, "I just don't know how somebody could do that to Julio when everybody knew how Julio was?"
Ortega leaves behind a 14-year-old son. Neighbors told Eyewitness News, four men were seen running away from the scene after the shooting. Police said their investigation is continuing.
Reported By: Elizabeth Hur
